Schools work

KeshetUK works with teachers and young people to ensure that Jewish schools are safe places where all young people can flourish and enjoy learning in an environment that enhances their wellbeing and supports their identity development. Our activities with teachers and students create cultures where LGBT+ Jewish people feel valued and respected through delivering inclusion training for teachers and support staff; and school specific activities for students.

What we offer schools

LGBT+ Inclusion Training (Primary and Secondary) appropriate for: Senior leaders and governors | Jewish Studies (Kodesh) teachers | Pastoral teachers | General teaching staff and wider school staff ( e.g receptionists, dinning hall staff, security etc) | Parents, carers and family members

Working together with the school to create curriculum (Secondary)
Spiral curriculum (specific workshops and assemblies for each year group Yr7-13) delivered by KeshetUK (secondary)
Assemblies and workshops
KeshetUK drop-in sessions for teachers and school staff
Meeting with individuals such as rabbis, teachers, staff - in confidence where necessary - to increase their understanding of what including Jewish LGBT+ people and their families could look like.

Please note: All of our work is bespoke for the individual school with which we are working. We understand that different schools will have different ethos' and we work with each school to ensure our content is in line with theirs.

Recent schools' news

Our key achievements over the last few years include:

The wellbeing of LGBT+ pupils - A Guide to orthofox Jewish schools

KeshetUK now reaches over 3,500 secondary school students annually with our Year 7 to Year 13 curriculum.
Delivered LGBT+ inclusion training over the years to over 300 teachers from secondary and primary schools from Orthodox schools, cross communal schools and pre-school teachers from nurseries affiliated to the Reform Movement.
Created a guide directed more towards youth movements but will also be helpful to some school staff and parents. To find our guide on “Supporting Jewish LGBT+ young people online during Covid-19" please click here”
Co-creation of a ground-breaking document ‘The Wellbeing of LGBT+ Pupils – A Guide for A Guide for Orthodox Jewish Schools’ (2018), in partnership with Chief Rabbi Mirvis.
Young adult Jewish LGBT+ role models attending JCoSS to tell their personal stories to 780 students to mark Pride in London. Speakers included a member of the Rainbow Rabbis group – an informal group of LGBT+ rabbis and cantors

Testimonies

"Overall we are consistently impressed with the professionalism and level of impact of programming by KeshetUK’s professional and voluntary staff.  Activities for JCoSS staff and students have been pitched appropriately, and have had exactly the right balance of engaging and challenging material.  Keshet facilitators have made significant impact on certain individual students as well as on the school community as a whole.  The support offered by KeshetUK is invaluable in helping us make the school as inclusive as possible."

Sara Lavan, Director of Jewish life, JCoSS (2018)

“The KeshetUK team are always super-organised and a pleasure to work with. Over the years they have taken time and care to learn about our school, our students and their needs; programmes are well targeted to each year group and we are delighted to work with KeshetUK as community partners.”

Melanie Shutz, Assistant Head (Ethos), King Solomon High School (2023)

"It [the schools' guide] is written with great sensitivity and wisdom. It considers both the students who need our support while remaining true to Halacha.

The Chief Rabbi leads the way for all educators in how we must work actively to prevent homophobic, transphobic and biphobic bullying and provide appropriate pastoral support. The guide provides insight on how to listen, use language appropriately and care for our students so they feel supported. It helps and guides schools to ‘think ahead’ and be proactive rather than reactive on this subject. JFS is not only proud to support this initiative but will use the resource to ensure a sense of real inclusivity at school with KeshetUK."

Rachel Fink, Headteacher, JFS (2018) - Quote from the Jewish News